One thing I noticed last fall when I moved to up my exposure to horror films was how there were sub-genres within the genre. Two units into The Anime Syllabus, it would appear as though sub-genres abound here too. I’m sure this isn’t news at all to anyone interested in the medium…but as an outsider, it was a little bit unexpected. in a very good way.

Much like my experience with the first unit, I went two-for-three, but the shift in tone was definitely the biggest thing I took away from these three entries.

Interestingly, I began this unit of the syllabus quite similarly to the last unit – with the best of the lot. It was dumb luck again, especially because I drastically strayed from the order in this unit. Regardless, I can say with authority that if someone wanted an entry point into anime, then GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES is a good example of how the genre can transcend.

The film is set very much in “our world” and uses the art form to tell a very touching and heartbreaking tale. At this stage, watching such a story play out drew me in deep, as it stood in stark contrast to the three fantastical movies I’d watched previous.  In a way, using animation to tell a WWII story is disarming – there’s an inherent sense of wonder that comes with animation as a medium. So for it to go to the dark and sad places it does comes with a bit more sting than one is used to from animation.

I’d heard veiled warnings about the film’s conclusion, so it didn’t turn me into the blubbering mess it could have. That’s not to say I didn’t want a hug…

Providing a nice break in the rhythm was 5 CENTIMETRES PER SECOND. It too is a film that is very much grounded in our world, but it changes things up by telling three short stories within the runtime. With each chapter playing shorter than the one that preceded it, 5CM/s is the story of that intense love one feels when one is young. In a way it’s a sonnet for that adoration and its purity. It’s a feeling that we’re old enough to understand, but not yet old enough to muddy with lust. It burns brightly for the briefest moment, and as I think about it, I realize its a type of love that is very seldom embodied on film.

Directed by Makoto Shinkai, the films played out with a subtle elegance I hadn’t seen yet in the syllabus. Up until now, everything has either come from the hyperactive palette of a SPIRITED AWAY or PAPRIKA, or the more muted touch of MILLENNIUM ACTRESS and FIREFLIES. What this film did instead was to keep all the visuals very tangible, but present every passing moment at its most photogenic. Hell, dead trees portrayed in this movie look like they should be hanging in the Louvre.

I see 5CM/s as my good fortune – both for its unexpected elegance, and for watching it at the perfect moment.
If my good fortune has a flip side, it’s THE PLACE PROMISED IN OUR EARLY DAYS. Not only was this a title one of my curators tried to scratch from the list, but of the whole syllabus, it proved to be the trickiest title to track down. Those of course are outside factors, and didn’t weigh on my impression of the film. But nevertheless, both details are unfortunate.

THE PLACE PROMISED – like the other pair of films in this unit – felt very much grounded in “this world”. Obviously though, it’s an alternate version of “this world” – one where Japan has been separated into two nations (North and South). Its sci-fi-like vibe builds well off its plausibility (think CHILDREN OF MEN), however it spent much of its runtime being a bit too hushed for me and where I was at with the series. Watching it right after 5CM/s was a bad idea, since the two are very much sister films (at first I thought I was watching the end of the former again). In wanting to get a broad sampler of the genre, the last thing one wants is a double-dose.

The film is elegant, and philosophically interesting. However, I think I can see why some wanted me to leave it aside in favour of other titles.

Watching these three films together was fortuitous – especially since I hadn’t actually planned it this way! It left the magical and fantastical aside and zeroed the art and storytelling in on tales that are more mature than your average western cartoon. They showed me a different facet of the genre, one that will be much-needed as I get back to the fanciful with the next unit.

Speaking of that next unit, it will come with a decidedly different frame of mind since the next three – PRINCESS MONONOKE, CASTLE IN THE SKY, and WHISPER OF THE HEART will all be watched theatrically.

Wish me luck…

18 Replies to “Big in Japan pt. 3 (Continuing the Anime Syllabus)”

  1. So glad you liked 5cm Per Second. It’s a really beautiful film that, as you say, covers a kind of love rarely depicted in films. The animation is also extremely striking.

    1. Very beautiful, and sweetly poetic. Some moments even reminded me of the way a younger star-struck me used to think!

      Might have to dig into more of the director’s work when this is all over.

  2. God, I could just LOOK at Makoto Shinkai’s work for ages, his animation style is so beautiful and serene in a way. I’m sorry for the film confusion with him, though, I think I was basically saying “Watch any one of his films” since he only has two features and a short and they’re all good, I should have been more specific, since 5 CM is definitely better.

    And yeah GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES will get to you! I am glad you’re seeing the different styles and subgenres of anime, since that was exactly my intention- I think a lot of people unfamiliar with anime think it’s mostly the same kind of thing.

    I’m jealous you’re seeing WHISPER OF THE HEART in a theater! With that one you’ll see another example of innocent young love, which is actually a fairly common theme in anime (and I’d say Japanese films in general) because for whatever reason the young teens is a very popular age for their story’s characters. While in the US I’d say that the sexier 16-18 bracket is the main teen age for movies and tv, in anime it often falls closer to 13-15.

    I’m actually seeing a screening of PRINCESS MONONOKE myself tonight, the MFA is doing a Studio Ghibli series and I’m psyched, since I’ve never seen any of Miyazaki’s films on the big screen.

    1. Having me watch both filled out the curriculum nicely, and it wasn’t like I thought A PLACE was *bad*…just not what I was wanting right at that moment.

      Sasha was actually in the apartment when I was watching FIREFLIES, and much to my surprise she admitted never having seen it! Not sure if she ever will sit down and catch up with it though, since we started talking very specifically about the ending. Funny thing: In logging the film, I noticed that there’s a live action version of the story. To me that feels little…false? I prefer it as an animated tale. It’s more engaging, and thus more powerful when shit gets real.

      Well, if you fancy another trip to Toronto next month – all of those Ghibli films will be at The Lightbox. I’m sure you’ll see dozens of posts about them from all the usual locals.

  3. Out of these I’ve only seen Grave of the Fireflies, which I personally found underwhelming. Never connected with me on any level.

    I look forward to hearing about your next three, especially Whisper of the Heart which I think is an unfairly overlooked Ghibli film.

    2. I have been called soulless and robotic on many occasions, so it’s possible I could be made of stone as well. I might revisit it some day, but there’s so much Japanamation I’d rather catch up with first.

  4. I really need to see Grave of the Fireflies. It is a film that has been popping up on a lot blogs over the last year. Looking forward to your thoughts on Princess Mononoke and Castle in the Sky, quite enjoyed both those films.

  5. I went fairly blind into Grave when I saw it. So by the end, I was blubbering mess you mention. But I still love it a lot for its power to transcend a genre and it does have those cutesy elements of Traditional Animation as well.

    I haven’t seen 5 CM/SEC but one movie I like to look at is Howl’s moving Castle, not a bad movie overall as well.

    While learning about Anime yourself, you are giving me some good recommendations of anime movies as well. So, Thanks and looking forward to Mononoke and Castle in the Sky

    1. That’s the problem with having so many movie-lovin’ friends…they tip shit off even when they don’t mean to.

      Track down 5CM/s – should be easy to find. As alex mentioned, for its visuals alone it’s worth a look.

      Glad the whole project is adding to your own watchlist! If you want even more suggestions, you might want to tune into the next Matineecast on the 27th.

  7. I’m glad Makoto Shinkai worked for you! His films are so inherently reflective in nature that I know he can be off putting for some. If you ever have 30 mins to kill definitely hunt down a copy of Voices of a Distant Star. On some level there’s an argument to be made that you should watch that first as it really sets the tone for all of his future films. Really connects the tone of Places and 5CM.

    1. DISTANT STAR has been mentioned a few times through this: That was the one I alluded to when I mentioned that Alex talked about switching one out.

      I might track it down when this is all done, but I need to move on to another style first.

  8. Castle in the Sky is my second favorite Studio Ghibli film, so I hope you enjoy it. I own Grave of the Fireflies, but can’t get myself to watch it based on all the depressing stuff I’ve heard about it. Perhaps I’ll put it in someday. I’m excited to see your next report.

    1. A few days late responding here – apologies.

      FIREFLIES is a sad tale, but it’s so wonderfully told that I dare suggest you are missing out if you leave it sitting on the shelf. Next time you happen upon a grey afternoon, drop it in the player. You won’t be sorry.

      As for the next dispatch, I too can’t wait – soaking up a lot of these on a big screen is something I didn’t think I’d have the chance to do when I set out to watch this syllabus!

Comments are closed.